Normally, the Pastor’s Corner is reserved for commenting on the Sunday Gospel, or sometimes the Old Testament reading, but it wouldn’t seem right to let the 250th Anniversary of our nation’s birth pass by without commenting, or more appropriately, putting our celebration in the light of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The love of one’s nation is a Holy thing. This patriotism is one of the characteristics of St. Joan of Arc that drew me to her so strongly. She looked at her family, neighbors and country men, saw the oppression of generations of occupation by the English and her heart was moved with great pity and sorrow. Throughout the Old Testament, we hear songs and great love for the nation of Israel and God credited it to many as being righteous and good. The love of one’s nation draws our hearts out to others and has led countless men and women to a holy understanding of sacrifice and gift. One could also say that if one cannot hold a love for his nation, then how could one hold a love for the whole world?
At the same time, Joan and the Prophets of Israel showed us what a properly ordered love and patriotism is. She desired freedom from a foreign oppressor and a reigniting of the love of God among her brothers and sisters. Moses sought freedom for his people, to be let go so that they could go out and worship their God. Neither sought to conquer their oppressors, or expand an empire. The love of one’s nation is not about victory and conquest over others, but is in deliverance against evil and the freedom to become holy. In other words, that we may become a “holy nation, a royal priesthood.”
This desire for holiness is not something we find only in scripture, but St. Thomas Aquinas wrote about significantly in his description of governments and social justice. The purpose of a nation and governments is to lead the people to Christ; the morality and goodness of laws is similarly determined by how affectively they help the people to grow in virtue.
We do not live in a perfect union. Our governing leaders are not saints, nor do many of them seem to look to Christ and the Holy Spirit in their decision processes. I see many similarities between the United States and Israel during its time of fall. I love our nation and am most grateful for many blessings that our Lord has bestowed upon her. I pray for her holiness and have faith that she can live up to the call which has been part of those blessings: to be a light to the nations and a beacon; to be a sign of true liberty, the freedom from the chains of oppression and sin, that all may be free to love and worship our God and heavenly Father. May God Bless our United States and that we be worthy of His Blessing and the promises of Christ.